In a Platforum9 Session last week focused on law students and early career pathways, Julian Yarr, former Managing Partner of leading Irish law firm A&L Goodbody, shared invaluable insights on what law firms truly seek when recruiting trainees. Drawing from his twelve years of experience leading a major firm and his current perspective serving on the boards of three European law firms, Yarr offered a comprehensive view of the qualities and skills that distinguish successful candidates in today’s evolving legal landscape.
Beyond Academic Excellence: The Complete Package
While academic achievement remains important, Yarr emphasised that law firms are increasingly looking beyond grades to find candidates who offer a broader set of attributes. “The starting point in all of this is that law firms—large and medium—are looking to try and invest for the future,” he explained, highlighting that firms are essentially “taking a little bit of a bet” on both the number of people they need and the skill sets required for tomorrow’s legal environment.
This forward-looking approach means that the traditional focus solely on academic performance has expanded to encompass a much wider range of qualities and capabilities.
Ten Key Qualities Law Firms Seek in Trainees
1. Genuine Interest in Legal Practice
At the most fundamental level, firms want to know if candidates truly understand what it means to be a lawyer. As Yarr noted, “Most law firms want to know: do you really want to be a lawyer? Do you know what corporate law firms do?” This genuine interest needs to extend to specific knowledge about the firm itself—its culture, practice areas, and what distinguishes it from competitors.
2. Technological Awareness
The legal profession is undergoing significant transformation due to technology. While firms don’t expect candidates to be tech experts, they do look for awareness and curiosity. “Do you understand why technology is important to the delivery of legal services? Have you played around with any of the technology? Can you talk about it?” Yarr explained that showing interest in how technology is changing legal practice demonstrates that you’re forward-thinking and adaptable.
3. Human Skills
What Yarr referred to as “hard skills” (though often called “soft skills” elsewhere) are increasingly crucial in the legal profession. “Imagine a world at the moment where for the previous hundred years, the human skill has been the differentiating factor for whether a lawyer’s going to be successful or not,” he observed. These include:
- Communicating with clarity
- Persuasion abilities
- Self-awareness
- Active listening
- Emotional intelligence
- Sound judgment
As technology increasingly handles routine legal tasks, these distinctly human capabilities become even more valuable. “If I were going back and starting again my career, I’d be really thinking carefully about the sorts of skills that I have beyond academic intelligence,” Yarr reflected.
4. Commercial Awareness
Understanding the business context in which legal advice operates is essential. “Law is not for law’s sake. It’s not in a vacuum. Lawyers apply law in the context of their client’s needs,” Yarr emphasised. This means staying current with business developments and being able to discuss how they might affect clients. For example, being prepared to discuss current issues like tariffs and their implications demonstrates that you understand the commercial environment in which lawyers operate.
5. Teamwork Capabilities
“Law’s a team sport,” Yarr stated emphatically. The traditional image of the solitary lawyer is increasingly outdated. Modern legal practice typically involves collaboration across different practice areas, jurisdictions, and even professions. Candidates should be able to demonstrate their ability to work effectively in teams, whether through sports, academic projects, or other collaborative endeavours.
6. Adaptability in Uncertainty
In today’s volatile business environment, adaptability has become paramount. “When I sit on boards at the moment, the biggest challenge that each board is facing is uncertainty, volatility,” Yarr observed. Firms value candidates who can provide examples of how they’ve adapted to changing circumstances and embraced new approaches when necessary.
7. Resilience
Yarr described resilience as “a muscle and a strength” that’s particularly important in legal practice. “Being a lawyer is hard. It’s demanding. You’re under pressure. There are timelines, there are long hours,” he noted. Firms want trainees who can maintain positivity under pressure and learn from mistakes rather than being devastated by them. This is especially important for high-achieving students who may not have experienced much failure in their academic careers.
8. International Mindset
Despite recent geopolitical challenges, an international perspective remains crucial. “You have to have an international mindset because the world, despite what current challenges to geopolitical and trade [exist], you need to understand what’s happening in the world and why that might impact your clients,” Yarr explained. Experiences studying or working abroad can demonstrate this global outlook.
9. Self-Starting Initiative
Law firms increasingly value candidates who show drive and take responsibility for their own development. “Law firms want people who have got a bit of hunger, a bit of drive. I know that it’s up to them if they’re going to succeed,” Yarr noted. Examples of self-initiated projects or learning opportunities can demonstrate this quality effectively.
10. Networking and Interpersonal Skills
The ability to build and maintain relationships is fundamental to legal success. “The most successful lawyers have networks or can build them,” Yarr observed. In an age where digital communication dominates, the ability to build meaningful relationships in person becomes increasingly valuable. Firms look for evidence that candidates can engage effectively with others and build connections.
Beyond Perfection: Authenticity Matters
Perhaps most surprisingly, Yarr cautioned against presenting as “too perfect” in interviews. He shared an anecdote about a candidate who had perfect answers for every question but failed to secure the position because they seemed too scripted. “We just didn’t see enough of the real person,” he explained.
This highlights a critical point: while preparation is essential, authenticity is equally important. “Try to be yourself and try and be a little bit more outgoing and bring some of your colour and personality through, because that really shines,” Yarr advised. Firms are looking for colleagues they can genuinely work with, not just technically proficient lawyers.
Practical Interview Advice
For those preparing for interviews, Yarr offered several practical suggestions:
- Remember that if you’ve reached the interview stage, the firm already believes in your potential
- Harder questions often indicate you’re performing well, not poorly
- Don’t expect detailed questions about law—firms assume you’re smart enough if you’ve got a law degree
- Prepare examples that demonstrate your skills beyond the standard “group project” scenarios
- Have thoughtful questions ready to ask the interviewers
- Practice interviews with adults who can give honest feedback
- Be prepared to demonstrate how you recover from being flustered, as this shows resilience
Conclusion: The Complete Lawyer
The portrait Yarr painted is of law firms seeking complete individuals who bring not just legal knowledge but a range of human skills, commercial understanding, and personal qualities to their roles. As technology continues to transform legal practice, these distinctly human attributes—adaptability, communication, teamwork, and resilience—become even more valuable.
For aspiring lawyers, this broader focus offers both challenges and opportunities. While the competition for training contracts remains intense, those who can demonstrate this wider skillset may find ways to distinguish themselves beyond academic achievements alone. By developing and authentically presenting these qualities, candidates can position themselves as the kind of well-rounded professionals that today’s law firms are eager to invest in for the future.
